Rededication of Cozad Canal Tuesday

A century-old irrigation canal, with its head gates in Gothenburg, was rededicated Tuesday.

The ceremony took place at the head gates just west of Cottonwood Drive near Frito-Lay.

A restoration project, that began in 2012, was recently completed along the 27-mile canal that begins in Gothenburg and ends near Lexington.

Officials said the undertaking was to create a more efficient irrigation system.

The $6.5 million project was completed in three phases and was a partnership between the Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) and Cozad Ditch Company.

Improvements included:

152 acres of clearing and grubbing

21 miles of grading

13 new structures that included four farm crossings, six check structures, one under- drain structure, one siphon and a county road wing wall replacement

A river return structure

A Spring Creek Wasteway Structure that entailed the excavation of a Spring Creek channel, 22 walkway changes/extensions and a SCADA monitoring system of gates that includes four flume gates and seven slip meters.

Of the $6,596,860 spent on the project, 40% was from the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and CPNRD and 20% was from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Cozad Ditch will reimburse the NRD 20%.

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